Christianity Today has posted an interesting editorial, Save the E-Word: Let’s improve the public perception of evangelicalism.
In it, the author notes:
the American public’s understanding of evangelicals on the whole has rarely been more misshapen. “The public perception is that we are mean and negative,” commented “Mr. Southern Baptist” Jimmy Draper to the Boston Globe last year. The recently retired president of Lifeway Christian Resources was referring to the unsuccessful Southern Baptist boycott of Disney. But many evangelicals feel their movement has been tarred unfairly with the same “mean and negative” brush.So, here’s today’s question: are Evangelicals in any way guilty of contributing to those stereotypes?Several misperceptions are distorting the meaning of the word evangelical, including:
1. We are defined in the media by what we are against.
2. We are associated, in the public’s mind, with extreme fundamentalism.
3. We are linked by evangelicalism’s critics with the secular political agenda of the hard-right.
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October 23, 2006 at 10:12
It seems to me that many Christians are more concerned with attending church on Sundays than they are for the lost souls in their community. When evangelism does take place it’s often for the unspoken motive of “growing our church numbers.” Our communities see right through this. I’ll never forget when a community student told me that he feel like Christians invite people to an institution rather than to a relationship with Christ.
This obviously paints a negative picture for evangelicals.
October 23, 2006 at 11:01
An excellent question ! I belong to a fairly diverse Pentocostal church. In that one single church, I see people who contribute to the “mean and negative” perspective, as well as people who do not. Unfortunately, those who do not are not as loud or showy as those who do.
I’ll use 2 of your 3 points to illustrate.
“1. We are defined in the media by what we are against.”
People who are vocal about their boycotts and protests are a magnet for the media. They make exciting news, even more so when they can be portrayed as religious crackpots.
Those who work behind the scenes are boring to the world of media. Who wants to film someone leading a Bible study ? Or worse, actually talking intelligently about theology ? It is difficult to chop that kind of a discussion into a 1-minute segment that will grab a viewers’ attention.
“3. We are linked by evangelicalism’s critics with the secular political agenda of the hard-right.”
When someone brings up a differing political view, many of us have been conditioned to simply smile and nod in order to avoid discord (remember the phrase “never talk about politics or religion?”). I know I’ve done it, and I’ve seen many others do the same. The problem here is that the people who have the courage to speak are the only ones who get heard.
Each Christian has an individual responsibility to represent Jesus and the Gospel. If we aren’t being vocal, and are allowing those we don’t agree with tho speak for us, then it is our own fault that the public has a distorted view of evangelicals.
October 23, 2006 at 14:42
First of all, define “hard right.” If you’re talking about people who are strident and spewing hate (aka Phelps & his crowd), then I agree we don’t want to be identified with them.
However, if you’re saying anyone who is involved in being a good citizen – voting, speaking up on the issues, and groups who defend our religious liberties like the Libery Counsel, ADF and others, are problematic, I disagree. The secular media and those who oppose Christians being involved in public life would just love to see us isolate in our churches and keep our mouths shut.
We are to be salt and light, neither of which this world finds appealing. However, if we are to be effective, our walk better match our talk. Holy lives, thoughtful dialogue and graciousness speak volumes.
October 24, 2006 at 10:18
Anna,
This reminds me when I “thought” I was being a “good citizen” by placing my party’s sticker on my bumper during the contested election. My neighbors from that day on, turned from me as someone who they didn’t want to be like nor associate with. One was greatly offended by “my party’s leader”, and from that day on she only perceived me as one of his minions. She was sorta right, I was out showing his name above THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES. I have repented.
The point of this brief example is: When we place OUR politics in front of OUR citizenship in a “heavenly country”, we will only reap what we sow, discord, and division.
October 24, 2006 at 19:05
Brief:
So I guess this one bumper sticker incident makes an open and shut case for Christians abstaining from politics? And the lesson we learn is that running the country, making laws, managing public schools is the responsibility of the devil? It would be wrong of us to speak from a Godly perspective about the issues and candidates of the day, Christians pipe down. We are the one class of people that shouldn’t have a voice. And all those Christians that ran for office and were elected as Governors, Senators, Judges and school board leaders are out of the will of the Lord? In any case I guess they shouldn’t count on our support.
When we are advocating for a righteous candidate or a moral law we are sowing to righteousness and morality, not discord.
October 25, 2006 at 15:23
Brief –
Thank you for your thoughtful response. I share your passion for evangelism.
Because Christians were silent when prayer was taken out of schools and did nothing when our religious freedoms were severely eroded, generations have grown up with no moral anchor. These individuals have embraced secular humanism with a vengeance and are now determined to eradicate Christianity from the public square.
Many believers have finally realized they need to participate in the process to preserve our religious liberties. God has blessed us with freedom, but freedom must be maintained. We cannot expect others to do it for us. The Federal bureaucracy is not the government. We, the people, are the government. If Christians had not been involved in government at the start of our nation, we would not have these rights. If we wish to continue evangelism, we must challenge any move to restrict our freedoms of speech and religion.
Someone once said that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Unfortunately, it sometimes costs us in terms of personal relationships.
Anna
October 26, 2006 at 00:05
It is well said that we must walk by faith, not by sight. The world shall love its own, and are you so in a wonder that you can not show the world according to the world? We are an invisible nation, a holy people, no more of the world. It is truth, that there is safety in the Gospel, that we must continue therein, for this is our witness to the world. There is not one of us that can calculate a “good witness”. You shall overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. If you are persecuted for this, you have witnessed a good confession. And shall the world see or know or understand a good conscience Godward? I was once of the world, but am now chosen out of the world and sent into the world. This God has determined, not that I should be a friend of the world, but a witness that the works thereof are evil. If God has put in you the desire of your heart, surely it is to keep the commandments of the Son. And you need not I say them to you, but these are necessary to bring to your remembrance: Resist not the evil, but the devil, and he will flee from you. Overcome evil with good. By these shall many take note, and consider. There are so many things to say to you, only now there is an expediency to say one more thing: In the hearing of men let your confession be perfect, and your praise perfect. Here is the perfect confession: To the Son we say: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And here is the perfect praise: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. By these things you shall find no astonishment in you, and faith is increased after this fashion: because of Jesus Christ we shall not be ashamed. Let the world consider these things, for the world is empty, but that God has determined that the whole earth shall be filled with His glory. Amen
October 26, 2006 at 09:32
Rick,
I didn’t write or mean my one bumper sticker was to bring repentence to you. You “examine yourself”, I’m not.
I summed up with this:
“The point of this brief example is: When we place OUR politics in front of OUR citizenship in a “heavenly country”, we will only reap what we sow, discord, and division.”
Notice how this writing is almost doing the same?
If we really ventured into your politics or mine, we will almost certainly get heated up and divided quick. (I would venture to say)
Now if you and I, who profess our citizenship in His country, start getting divided on this countries political fronts, what will that do to our witness? We already know. What will that represent to our “lost” and “condemned already” neighbors who watch? We already know.
Notice I wrote “politics in front”.
You see, If I had placed my witness (seeking His kingdom first) to a lost neighbor in front of my political party, then we wouldn’t be divided on what amounts to be second place endevours.
“His kingdom” isn’t and never will be what the presidents, governors, and our elected officials will help reign over.
Luke 17:20-21
“And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
My vote and bumper stickers arn’t going to set up His kingdom, but my obedient, faithful witness to preach The Kingdom, will. (By His power and Spirit alone).